FM-MC4

A perfect blend of accuracy and ergonomICS

  • User-friendly and powerful PC control with software module flexibility and upgrade utility
  • Professional calibrated FM receiver for Metering class operation with exceptional certified performance (ECC and FCC approved equipment, supplied with a calibrated antenna).

 

The reference for FM signal metering

  • Benefit 1 : RF readings

    • To create a record of what the real-world contours of your stations look like
    • To compare your signal with your auxiliary, adjacent channels and your competitors
    • To check and adjust antenna patterns
    • To correlate real field readings with predicted data
    • To determine whether or not a station or transmitter site is worth buying by verifying published contours 

  • Benefit 2 : Evaluation of audio reception quality with GOLDENEAR

    • To evaluate the reception quality of your station
    • To allow non technical people to visualize the coverage (maps, audio recording)
    • To identify areas with multipath interference problems
    • To choose the best transmitter location in your market

  • Benefit 3: Audio and modulation analysis

    • To check if levels comply with regulations
    • To adjust your audio processing and establish sound identity all through your network
    • To improve audio quality vs.your competition
    • To check SCA and analyze RDS and DARC

More than 100 000 readings in 60 minutes ... while driving your car!

Broadcasters and major regulation authorities use Audemat's FM-MC4 to perform field-strength measurements.
Installed in a car, the portable FM-MC4 can perform measurement campaigns. With the embedded GPS receiver, each measured value is automatically indexed to a geographical location.
The calibration of each element of the system (antenna, receiver, cable...) and its powerful processing capability allows the FM-MC4 to comply to the requirements of the most demanding clients .

The software is divided into 3 independent modules:
  • Campaign preparation
  • Campaign data acquisition
  • Campaign reader

 

Mobile field-strength campaign

  • Up to 99 stations can be measured during one drive
  • The campaign preparation module can be started directly from the Scan module to create a campaign configuration automatically from the stations detected in the scan.
  • Up to 4 kinds of data representation: text, curve, geographical and cartographic
  • New multi-signal data display in the campaign reader window enables any user to rapidly and easily compare several stations and to assess relative coverage and performance for each of them.
  • Data dipsplay in graph or text form shows precise values of measurements and allows the user to make accurate comparisons between 2 or more stations, using improved ergonomics and very simple tools (zoom, cascade, info…).
  • Capability to export data in text format, in ATDI HertzMapper format, to MAPINFO, to MapPoint and GoogleEarth
  • Examples of data in GoogleEarth: This capability produceds a 3D view of the measurements and enables easy understanding of factors that can affect measurement values that are difficult to interpret in 2D (terrain, shadowing).
  • Global data and free mapping software.
  • Easy exporting of results (txt file) for comparison with simulation software
  • Automatic selection of the best received frequency (RDS retuning)
  • 3 IF selectable filters (narrow, medium, large)







Mobile audio reception Quality - Goldenear


RF coverage measurement alone is insufficient for evaluating the real quality of reception. The GOLDENEAR module software is able to acquire simultaneously RF, modulation, audio, RDS, SCA, pilot, and multipath levels every 50 ms (for a single frequency) . Afterwards, a quality index from 1 to 5 is created using a powerful algorithm which takes into consideration all acquired data.
  • Audio reception quality can be clearly displayed on colorful maps.
  • The synchronized audio recording from the measured frequency makes readings easy to understand .
  • A free version of the reader is available for easy sharing of the results.
  • Precise values are available for expert analysis.


Portable audio and modulation analyzer

  • To analyze the signal all along the transmission chain : L&R balanced and unbalanced inputs, composite(MPX) input, RF input, 10.7 MHz input.
  • To measure modulation (MPX) level, audio level, pilot and SCA level (RDS, DARC) to ensure compliance with official recommendations
  • To measure modulation (MPX) power: 256K samples per second according to ITU BS 412-7 2.3 recommendation
  • Displays: bargraph, peak/time, density, envelope, multipath reading.
  • Measurement log for tracking and automatic generation of reports after measurements are made .

Sequencer

  • To be used with the Audio and Modulation module software
  • Enables the measurement session to be scheduled at given time and launched automatically.
  • For example, night or week-end sessions - unattended operation.
  • Automatic reports can still be created and printed.

Additional module software for local FM band scanning and RDS & DARC analysis


Local FM band scanning

  • To quickly and easily identify locally transmitted programs and their main features.
  • Scanning acquisition performed in two steps (level acquisition, then saving of RDS PI, PS & AF lists)
  • Capability to save & compare curves
  • Curve and station list display
  • Dynamic pointer
  • Direct tuning to a station (for listening or analysis)
  • Possible selection from 3 IF filters
  • Easy exportation of the data of one or all stations directly to the field strength measurement software. With this automatic operation a user can immediately start a field strength measurement campaign without risk of input error when entering station parameters.
  • Enhanced print features

RDS analyser

  • Enables a detailed analysis of the subcarrier
  • Complete RDS data decoding
  • Bit Error Rate processing
  • Capability to record and replay RDS data
  • Monitoring of static and dynamic RDS data
  • Various screen displays (general, AF list, EON, EON AF, paging, groups, HEXA, ASCII).
  • Multiple data filtering possibilities (group, block…).
  • Check of bit error rate
  • Comparison of RDS configuration

DARC analyser

  • Enables a detailed analysis of the DARC subcarrier